Tim Tolman
Encyclopedia
Timothy Lee Tolman is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
Tolman played his college baseball at the University of Southern California
and was drafted by the Houston Astros
in the 12th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He reached the major leagues in 1981 after batting .322, hitting 14 home runs and having 99 runs batted in for the Tucson Toros
of the Pacific Coast League
. His OPS
was .927.
In his seven major league seasons (with the Astros from 1981 through 1985, and the Detroit Tigers
in 1986-1987), Tolman could never gain a regular job and hit only .168 for his career, never batting higher than the .196 he posted in 1983. He played two more seasons in the International League
(for the Tidewater Tides in 1988 and the Syracuse Chiefs in 1989) before retiring.
After his playing career, Tolman managed from 1991-1996 in the Astros' minor-league system. He was a scout in 1997-1999 and a scouting supervisor for the Astros in 2000-2002, then became minor league field coordinator for the Cleveland Indians
from 2003 to 2006.
Tolman was the third base coach for the Washington Nationals
in and was the subject of criticism. Tolman was fired on September 28, 2008, after the final game of the 2008 season.
On January 13, , Tolman was named the Seattle Mariners
coordinator of instruction.
After the 2009 season, Tolman was hired as bench coach by new Cleveland Indians' new manager, Manny Acta
, under whom Tolman had coached in Washington. The relationship between Tolman and Acta goes back to 1991, when Acta played for Tolman, who was managing the Burlington Astros of the Midwest League
. Acta later served on Tolman's coaching staff.
"He's a very bright baseball mind. I feel very comfortable with Tim," Acta said. "He managed me in the minor leagues. I feel like he's a guy that can really help me. He's never been afraid to talk to me, and that is very important for a bench coach. He's also very familiar with our system, which we took into consideration."
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Tolman played his college baseball at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and was drafted by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the 12th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He reached the major leagues in 1981 after batting .322, hitting 14 home runs and having 99 runs batted in for the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. His OPS
OPS
-Organizations:*Office of Protective Services*Office of Public Safety*Presidential Communications Operations Office , known as Office of the Press Secretary*Optical Position Sensor, an electronic device*Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg...
was .927.
In his seven major league seasons (with the Astros from 1981 through 1985, and the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1986-1987), Tolman could never gain a regular job and hit only .168 for his career, never batting higher than the .196 he posted in 1983. He played two more seasons in the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
(for the Tidewater Tides in 1988 and the Syracuse Chiefs in 1989) before retiring.
After his playing career, Tolman managed from 1991-1996 in the Astros' minor-league system. He was a scout in 1997-1999 and a scouting supervisor for the Astros in 2000-2002, then became minor league field coordinator for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
from 2003 to 2006.
Tolman was the third base coach for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
in and was the subject of criticism. Tolman was fired on September 28, 2008, after the final game of the 2008 season.
On January 13, , Tolman was named the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
coordinator of instruction.
After the 2009 season, Tolman was hired as bench coach by new Cleveland Indians' new manager, Manny Acta
Manny Acta
Manuel Elias Acta is a Major League Baseball manager for the Cleveland Indians. He is the former manager of the Washington Nationals . In the Dominican Winter League, he managed the Tigres del Licey from 2002–2004, including leading them to victory at the 2003 Caribbean Series...
, under whom Tolman had coached in Washington. The relationship between Tolman and Acta goes back to 1991, when Acta played for Tolman, who was managing the Burlington Astros of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. Acta later served on Tolman's coaching staff.
"He's a very bright baseball mind. I feel very comfortable with Tim," Acta said. "He managed me in the minor leagues. I feel like he's a guy that can really help me. He's never been afraid to talk to me, and that is very important for a bench coach. He's also very familiar with our system, which we took into consideration."